History will show that I, like a number of others, got the call on Frans Steyn wrong this past weekend.

I’m not going to take up paragraphs justifying my views on this; rather, I’ll say that in the absence of whatever “additional video footage” was shown at the hearing and without Gerrie Swart present to convince me otherwise, I saw the spear tackle (or is that now “alleged spear tackle” since it now, I guess never happened) pretty much the same way that the match officials did.

For what it’s worth, I’m pleased that the Sharks depth will not be reduced any further through a suspension for Steyn. As a senior player and member of the leadership group, now is exactly the time that we need him to step up show the benefit of his experience. Here’s hoping that when Frans leaves the field smiling this week, it’s because he’s played a big part in a big win over the Force.

22 Comments

Let us just say for once we are on the receiving end of a fairly lenient call.

Comment 1, posted at 24.03.15 07:50:57 by Bokhoring

I thought the other players assisted in pushing Cruden through the vertical, and would have accepted a yellow, but I couldn’t blame the ref and assistant ref for their call.

That said, I’m happy Frans will be available to us this weekend and I’m glad we showed the character to pull off the win.

Comment 2, posted at 24.03.15 07:55:06 by StevieS

@Bokhoring (Comment 1) : I don’t agree, it would have never been a spear tackle if Reinach and Kanko didn’t join. But yes maybe a little rub of the green but its still pretty obvious that it wouldn’t have turned out the way it did if those players did not join in.

@ Rob, Stop seeing what you want to see come on

Comment 3, posted at 24.03.15 07:58:49 by Uli Boelie

@Uli Boelie (Comment 3) : I am not blaming Steyn for it – but the result was a tip tackle.

Comment 4, posted at 24.03.15 08:02:06 by Bokhoring

@Bokhoring (Comment 4) : I agree, but his intention was not a tip tackle. Which makes it very different.

Comment 5, posted at 24.03.15 08:47:47 by Uli Boelie

Seems the Sharks are planning a rest day for Lambie, Reinach and Marcel

Comment 6, posted at 24.03.15 12:14:29 by FireTheLooser

Gif Gert

Comment 7, posted at 24.03.15 12:19:47 by Big Fish

André Snyman – great player. André Snyman’s 23 man squad for the world cup – not so great.

Comment 8, posted at 24.03.15 12:34:23 by Ben

@Uli Boelie (Comment 5) : Intention is impossible to gauge by a ref – they can only go on result.

@Bokhoring (Comment 9) : Wise comment. I guess we as spectators, and even the players themselves, forget this.

Comment 11, posted at 24.03.15 12:44:19 by StevieS

I saw this on another thread but I was busy with a workshop for the last two days.

On the footage, it is common practice that in a hearing (which happens automatically if you are given a red) additional footage is requested and supplied by the broadcaster that would not have been televised.

I have not seen any of this, but I have seen personally how additional footage gives huge perspective to broadcast footage of incidents – I have no doubt this was the case here too.

As for the workshop, which was about scouting (from U15 level), I can tell you the Sharks are in good hands and now have some awesome systems to support this programme.

@Morné (Comment 12) : Never knew there is a footage available that may not be reviewed by the TMO during a referral (assuming the TMO looks at exactly the same thing that we see on our screens). Doesn’t that create further room for wrong calls? Or is there simply not enough time available during a game for the TMO to review all footage?

There are, in big games, 28 and close to 40 cameras – just from a time perspective it is impossible for the producer to look at every camera angle and send it to the TMO, so the main broadcasting ones (about 8 to 10 cameras) are used.

Remember this is really only for foul play, 99% of TMO point decisions can be made from the broadcasting cameras.

@Uli Boelie (Comment 5) : The way I read it, the not guilty verdict was not based on intention, but first and foremost on the fact that, given additional footage, it was clear that Cruden was not driven down onto neck and shoulders, but onto hand and back. The additional input of (mainly Reinach) led to him then being rolled onto head and neck. In the absence of that additional footage, us normal blokes can’t really make a call on whether Frans was lucky to get that verdict or not.